Improvement in air engines or motors



PETER A. ENSIGN, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

Specification `forming part of Lettcrslatcnt No. 5&897, dated October 2,1866.

`have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Motors; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyiu gdrawings, forming partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 is anaxial section of an apparatus made according to my invention. Fig. 2 isan elevation, partly in section on the bent line a' of Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa detail view of the damper F. Fig. 4 is a top view of cylinder A. Fig.5 is an elevation of that part of the heater B which contains thedampers I I. Fig. 6 is a peripherical view, one side being partly brokenaway, of an upper section, A', of the cylinder of the apparatus. Fig. 7is a top view of such section. Fig. 8 is a top view of the apparatus.Fig. 9 shows, in red outline, two methods by which the upper partsorsections of the cylinder may be divided into compartments.

Similarletters ofreferenceindicatelilie parts.

The object of this invention is to obtain motive power from themovements of a column or columns of air in a cylinder, such power beingmade use of to drive machinery by means of suitable connections made inany convenient way.

The movement of the air may be accelerated by`heating it, for whichpurpose a furnace and heater are attached to the apparatus, the productsof combustion and heated air from which may be directed into theapparatus beneath a set of van es, which are immediately set in motionby the pressure of the hot air, 85e., such motion being thencommunicated to a drivingpulley outside of the apparatus by means ofsuitable gearing.

The speed is governed by a governor, which operates a throttle-valveinside of the cylinder below the vanes.

The letter A designates a vertical hollow cylinder, open at its ends,and supported at a suitable height above the ground toallow air to enterit freely.

Near the lower end ofthe cylinder is placed a throttle-valve, F, whoseshaft is connected through a crank to a connecting-rod, F', outside ofthe cylinder, which rod is moved by means of the rising and falling ofthe balls of a governor, H, in the usual way.

The shaft of the governor (see Fig. l) is supported by brackets outsideof cylinder A, the upper end of said shaft being connected bybevel-gears with a horizontal shaft, K, which goes through the side ofthe cylinder toward its center, where it is connected by bevel-gearswith a vertical shaft, E, supported in the axial center of cylinder Theshaft K is supported and inclosed by a stationary tube, J, which hasseveral holes on its upper side to receive oil for lubricating theshaft.

The shaft E is supported in suitable crosspieces, which may be providedwith cups to hold oil for lubrication. Around said shaft E, near itstop, is a wind-wheel, D, whose vanes reach nearly to the interiorsurface of the cylinder, being set at such a height as to be aboutopposite the places of discharge of hot air and gases from the heaterand furnace connected with the apparatus.

The cylinder A is lengthened by means of sections A', one of which isshown in Figs. l, 2, 6, and 7, such sections being made plain or withtwo or more divisions throughout their length, for the purpose of makingthe currents of air move upward with increased energy.

The letter B designates the wall of' a heater, which is placed along oneside of the cylinder, extending downward nearly to the ground, andinclosing a stove, (l, which may be tted and arranged'to burn coal orwood.

.Ihe stove-pipe c is extended upward nearly to the top of the heater,and is then led into the cylinder.

The heater B is closed below, and has register-openin gs I I for theadmission of air, which will become heated from the stove, and isdischarged into the cylinder at c2, where are several openings in thewalls of the cylinder, that are controlled by a damper, whose handle,c3, is taken through one side of the heater, in order to be within reachof the opera-tor. The heater has suitable doors, through which the stovecan be reached. t

I have shown but one wind-wheel in this example of my invention; butthere may be two 2 ssen? or more. The damper F is to be so arranged andconnected with the governor as to be gradually turned across the spacewithin the cylinder as the motion of the wheel D increases, therebypartially shutting off the supply of air from below.

It will be observed that the wheel D, being placed horizontally acrossthe cylinder, will intercept the column or current of air that ascendswithin the cylinder, and be rotated by reason of the Obliquity of itsvanes. The rapidity of the current will depend partly on the height ofthe cylinder, whose height may be increased by adding sections A', whichmay be, as above stated, divided into two or more compartments, inorder, by dividing the column of air, to increase the rapidity of itsascent. The upward movement of the air may also be accelerated by meansofthe stove and heater C B, the hot air and gases from which will, whendelivered into the cylinder, induce an upward movement of air frombelow.

The outer end of shaft K has on it a pulley, G, which can receive a bandwhen motion is to be communicated from it to a pulley on any machinethat is to be operated.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-

